Stranded Whale In South Kingstown Likely Had A Brain Infection: DEM

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A whale that became stranded in South Kingstown last week most likely had a brain infection and had kidneys infested with parasites, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) said Friday.

DEM officials said the necropsy of the 42-foot juvenile fin whale showed no evidence of blunt force trauma or fishing gear entanglement. The whale was found stranded in Potter Pond on Feb. 29.

Mystic Aquarium led the effort to try to rescue the whale. Rescuers hoped the whale would be able to re-float on its own at high tide and swim away. But its condition worsened, so rescuers euthanized the 25,000-pound whale.

"While the death of this majestic animal is a sad outcome, the data collected from the necropsy adds to research to better understand and protect these important species," DEM officials said in a Facebook post. "Necropsy on such a recently deceased whale is rare and provides an opportunity to collect information on the stranding to further the understanding of the circumstances responsible for these events."

DEM officials said the whale was in such poor health, that if they freed it, it most likely would have died at sea or became stranded again.

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